Six-figure scholarship spree: 100 students to split more than $100K in WCC Foundation cash

Titania Wiseman receives a scholarship check from Keith Warren, right, on behalf of BB&T at the Wilson Community College Foundation's 21st annual scholarship awards ceremony on Thursday. Warren is also the foundation's board chairman.

Drew C. Wilson | Times

Posted
Thursday, November 8, 2018 9:11 pm

By Drew C. Wilson

dwilson@wilsontimes.com252-265-7818

The Wilson Community College Foundation handed out more than $100,000 in scholarships shared among 100 students Thursday.

The students were handed checks at the at the foundation’s 21st annual scholarship awards ceremony held at the Frank L. Eagles Community Business Center.

“This is what the foundation is all about,” said Keith Warren, chairman of the Wilson Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

In addition to donations throughout the year, the foundation’s endowment grew through fundraisers like the recent Local Unsung Heroes Banquet and a spring golf tournament.

“All those funds come right back to the scholarships that are being given today,” Warren said.

Tim Wright, president of Wilson Community College, said the funds pay for tuition, books and fees.

Wright said the funding has a huge impact on the students’ ability to improve their lives.

“The impact is really incalculable when you think about the number of people that it allows to finish their educations,” Wright said. “Think about 100 extra people who are going to get educations that allow them to get out and get good jobs that would not have otherwise in a county the size of Wilson and that’s every year that that happens.”

Students at WCC range from age 16 to the older adult population.

“The average for our students, and this is common for community colleges throughout North Carolina and the country, is in the mid-20s, so even though we have a lot of traditional-aged college students, we also have a lot of folks in their 30s, 40s and 50s coming back to get new degrees or to skill up. It is very common.”

Keita Kornegay, medical office administration instructor, was recognized as the WCC faculty person of the year.

Penny Cuddington, accounting specialist in the business office and auxiliary services, was recognized as WCC staff person of the year.

Wright said the scholarships are only made possible because of the donors “whose generosity is beyond our ability to thank.”

“A lot of our donors here, probably most of them, do it year after year and have done it year after year and have supported hundreds and hundreds and thousands of students through their educations here,” Wright said. “It is really quite admirable what our donors do.”